09/ 13/ 2004
We live in a world where bomb threats and the specter of biological and chemical warfare – once the stuff of great action movies – have become an all-too-familiar reality. With the number of hurricanes that have battered the Florida coast in the last month, natural disasters remind us that the world around us can wreak fearsome havoc on our lives.
But while terror threats and natural disasters are now both part of our everyday reality, it is important to resolve not to be afraid, but instead to be ready. With the third anniversary of Sept. 11 falling this past weekend, the Department of Homeland Security has launched National Preparedness Month to educate citizens about ways to prepare for and act during a disaster.
You have a dual role in many emergency situations, with concerns not just for your family but also for your business and your employees. Here’s what you can do to be prepared when disaster strikes:
Know the threats
Familiarize yourself with the potential types of attacks that could take place: a biological attack, a chemical attack, a nuclear blast and a radiation threat. Learn the definitions of these threats and understand the outcomes of each. You can find clear explanations for these attacks at Ready.gov.
It’s also a good time to refresh your plan for natural disasters. Are you at risk for hurricanes, tornadoes or flooding? Almost any part of the country could be at risk for flooding if you are in a low-lying area. Check with local officials for your susceptibility to natural disasters.
Prepare yourself with the proper supplies
Next you need to think about your priorities in an emergency. First, you will need food, water and clean air. Plan to have enough supplies to sustain each person for at least three days. Each person needs a gallon of water per day and non-perishable food. Also, you should find something that can be used to filter the air should it become necessary. A filter mask available in any hardware store or a cotton cloth will work. How many supplies do you need? Consider how many people are in your business on a typical day, including staff and customers.
You may want to consider putting together two kits -- one that includes all of the supplies that you will need, and one that is a lighter version --should you have to evacuate quickly. Be sure to have any necessary medications or other such special supplies on-hand.
Just as you do at home, keep an ample supply of batteries, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, candles and other supplies that you can use in case the power goes out. With these supplies you will be more comfortable, and you will be able to stay up-to-date with any potential news or instructions in an emergency.
Check your heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system
Examine your heat and air system to determine if it is secure, or if it is easily accessible and could be tampered with. See if it is affordable and feasible to upgrade to a system that can better filter potential contaminants. Be sure you know how to turn your systems off should you need to.
Should you stay or should you go?
Make sure that your office building has a building evacuation plan that is regularly practiced. It is important when a problem arises that employees are familiar with the proper way to leave the office and that there is no confusion in a state of emergency. If you do not have an evacuation plan, take the time to make one. It will make all the difference should you have an emergency situation.
You may need different evacuation plans for natural disasters, fires or security threats. Know how the communication will work in your community from local officials to citizens, so that you’ll be aware of important information to protect your employees and family. Be sure you have several ways to contact employees should you evacuate – at home, cell phone, at relatives’ homes – so you can stay in touch.
Also, know what to do if you need to stay. If there is a biological or chemical threat, it may be better for you to create a shelter between yourself and a harmful substance outside. This is known as “shelter-in-place.” To do this, you should go to an interior room with few windows or doors, turn off ventilation units and block windows and vents with plastic sheets to block any harmful particles from contaminating your air. Be sure that you have your emergency supply kits with you in the room and try to learn more information form the Internet, radio or television if you can.
No one knows when or how a terrorist group or natural disaster might strike, but everyone can know what to do in an emergency. Take the time to learn about the proper courses of action for emergency situations, educate your employees and prepare your business with the appropriate emergency supplies.
